George morse guild



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

y G. M. GUILD. UPRIGHT PIANO ACTION.

No. 472,478. Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE MORSE GUlLD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO L. A. GUILD, OF SAME PLACE.

UPRIGHT-PIANO ACTION.

SFECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,478, dated April 5, 1892.

Application filed August 22, 1891. Serial No. 403,463. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE MoEsE GUILD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massach usetts, have invented certain Improvements in Upright-Piano Actions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of an uprightpiano action constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of the same. Fig. is a side elevation of the 0 same with the parts in the positions which they occupy when the key is depressed; Fig. 4, adetail in perspective to be referred to.

My invention relates to uprightpiano actions, and has for its object to simplify and reduce the cost of construction and to produce at the same time a light, elastic, and powerful action which will not be injuriously affected by climatic changes and in which the notes can be repeated in a more perfect and elfective manner than heretofore; and to this end my invention consists in certain novel combinations of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter set forth and specifically claimed.

In the said drawings, A represents the center rail, to the top of which is secured the flange a, to the opposite ends of which are pivoted the hammer-heel O and the damperlever B, carrying the damper b.

D is the ham mer-spring rail, and E the hammer-spri n g.

F is the hammer; d, the hammer-stem; G, the hammer-rail, and e the damper-spring, the parts thus far referred to being arranged and, with the exception of the rail A,l constructed in the usual manner.

To the heel of the hammer is pivoted at lO whatl term a combined lifter-rod and jack H, which slides within a bushed slot or groove 45 fin a guide-[lange l, secured to the bottom of the rail A, by which it is steadied and prevented from having any lateral movement, said flange l being made adjustable on the rail A by means of a screw 7 and slot, (not showin) whereby the lifter-rod and jack can 5o be easily adjusted to bring it exactly into line with the adjustable jack-butt. The lower end of the lifter-rod and jack H rests upon the adjustable jack-butt J, which is pivoted at its front end to the flange g of a rail K and is raised to operate the hammer by the key L, fulcrumed at 7L and provided near its rear end with an adjusting-screw t', the head of which bears upon a cushion la, applied to the under surface of the jack-butt,and by means 6o of this screw t' the parts can be adjusted to compensate for wear, the head of the screw being provided with holes to receive the end of a rod or other implement, by which it may be turned to effect the adjustment required.

To the rear end of the jack-butt J is secured the throw-off spoon M, which when the key L is depressed is brought into coutact with anintermediate lever N, pivoted at l2 to the guide-Harige l, the lower enlarged 7o end 15 of this lever being thus caused to strike an adjustable button Z, secured to the end of a regulating-screwm, passing through the lifter-rod and jack H, whereby the lower end of the said lifter-rod and jack is thrown offA 7 5 its seat n to allow the hammer to recede from the string p, and by means of this screw m the operation of these parts may be regulated with the greatest nicety.

The upper or short arm of the lever N is 8o not normally in contact with the lowerend of the damper-lever B, but is slightly removed therefrom, and is brought into contact therewith to actuate the same, as required, when operated by the throw-off spoon M on the de- 8 5 pression of the key L, and by making the lower arm of the intermediate actuating-lever N of great length and the upper arm above the pivot short, as shown, the leverage is increased so that the key will move the damper 9o with the greatest ease and without the contact of the short arm of the lever N with the damper-lever B as the key is depressed, being felt by the performer in the slightest degree, even if astiff damperspringis employed, the action being by this construction rendered easy and elastic. Furthermore, by employing the throw-off spoon M, projecting from the jack-butt toactuate the lever N, the necessary amount'or range of motion is secured to move the long arm of the said lever N a sufficient distance to produce the required movement of the damper-lever, and as the lower end of the lever N is normally situated some little distance from the regulating button Z it does not come into contact with it until the hammer has nearly touched the string, and consequently the lifter-rod and jack remains upon the shoulder or seat n of the jack-butt until after the blow has been struck, when the lifter-rod and jack is instantly thrown off its seat n against an elastic strip or buifer 16, secured to the rail K and forming a backstop therefor, as seen in Fig. 3. By this means the blow of the hammer upon the lstring is given with its full force before the lifter-rod and jack spring being often desirable, as it throws back the hammer more quickly and with ab solute certainty in case the joint should be; The weight of the` affected by dampness. lifter-rod and jack, combined with that of the bumper, to be hereinafter described, also asslStS the spring in throwing back the ham, l

- so that its lower end will have an extended mer after striking the string.

The upper inner edge of the rail K is bev-` eled, as at q, and (2o-operates with a block r, projecting from the front side of the lifter-y rod and jack H, and beveled on its under sidejT to correspond with the bevel q of the rail K,

and as the lifter-rod and jack commences to fall on the release of the key L the block r drops onto the bevel q, forcing back the lifterrod and jack H and causing itslower end to be instantly returned to its original position on the seat nef the jack-butt against the stop s, ready for a repetition of the blow of the hammer. By this construction I am enabled to reseat the end of the lifter-rod and jack on the shoulder n of the jack-butt very soon after the key L is released and when the hammer has receded but a short distance from the string, which gives me the advantage of being able to repeat rapidly without removing the finger from the key and at the same time cause the hammer to give a fine and perfect blow each time it strikes the string.

To stillfurtherincrease the repeating qualities of the action, l provide the lifter-rod and jack H with a light springt, at one end of which is formed a hook 18, which tits over a pin 20, projecting from the side'of the lifterrod and jack, so that it can easily be detached therefrom when necessary, the opposite end of the spring tbeing bent at a right angle and passed through a hole 21 in the jackbutt and afterward bent around the rea-r end of the same, as seen in Fig. 4. The bent end of the spring t moves freely in the hole 21, so that the spring is pivoted at this point, and is consequently free to oscillate, as is necessary to permit the lifter-rod and jack to drop olf its seat n into the position seen in Fig. 3. As the key L is depressed, a slight tension both in a backward and upward direction is put upon the spring t by the further separation of its lower ends, which while it does not interfere in any manner with the receding of the hammer from the string nevertheless cooperates with the bevel q of the rail K and the beveled block r and assists in placing the end of the lifterrod and jack H onto the shoulder or seat n of the jack-butt the moment the key L is relieved of the pressure of the finger, the parts being thus ready for another blow when the hammer has receded but a very short ldistance from the string.

P is the back-catch, which is secu red to and projects at or nearly at a right angle from the front side of the intermediate lever N, by which the damper B is operated. This catch P is provided with an elastic cushion 25, which when the lever N is actuated by the throw-off spoon on the key being depressed, as described, is brought up firmly and squarely against the lower end of a long bumper Q, serving, as it is pressed againstit, to hold the hammer from rebounding as soon as it has struck the string and has fallen back, as seen in Fig. 3. Ey thus securing the back-catch to the lever N and making the bumper Q of great length,

range of motion as the hammer swings on its pivot, the back-catch and bumper will always be at or nearly at right angles to each other, causing the pressure of the back-catch to be always exerted upon the bumper endwise or in the direction of its length, holding it firmly and securely, whether the blow of the hammer be a light or a powerful one,` and consequently there will no tendency of the end of the bumper to slide or slip down on the backcatch, as has heretofore been liable to occur, and which is very objectionable, as it produces a wedging of the back-catch and bumper together and a consequent choking of the action, owing to their failure to separate on the release of the key. With my improved construction any eXtra pressure on the key to produce'a powerful blow of the hammer will only cause the back-catch to be pressed more firmly against the end of the bumper without IOO IIO

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any slip in any direction, and as soon as the back-catch serving to return the lever IT to its normal position with its lower end in contact with the throw-olf spoon M, as seen in Fig. 2.

lVhat I claim as my invent-ion, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an upright-piano action,the lifter-rod and jack pivoted to the hammer-heel and provided with the button Z, in combination with the jack-butt pivoted to the flange ofthe rail K, the throw-oil2 spoon M, projecting from the jack-butt, and the intermediate lever N, arranged between the throw-off spoon and the button Z, substantially as set forth.

2. In an upright-piano action, the lifter-rod and jack pivoted to the hammer-heel and provided with the block r, in combination with the rail K, having a bevel or incline q, and the jack-butt, substantially as described.

3. In an upright-piano action, the backcatch P, secured to the lever N, the latter operated by the jack-butt, in combination with the bumper Q, projectingr from the hammerheel, substantially as described.

fl. In an upright-piano action, the combina tion, with the lifter-rod and jack pivoted to the hammer-heel and operated by the jackbutt, as described, of the lever N, the bachr catch P, secured to and projecting from the front side oi the lever N, and the bumper Q projecting down from the hammer-heel and adapted to be caught and held by the backcatch P as the lever N is actuated, substantially as described.

5. In an uprightpiano action, the combination of the lifter-rod and jack pivoted to the hammer-heel and provided with the button Z, the jack-butt J, provided with the throw-off spoon M, the lever N, the back-catch P, secured to the lever N, and the bumper Q, projecting from the ham mer-heel, said baclecatcli when actuated by the lever N being brought squarely against the end of the bumper Q, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an upright-piano action, the lifter-rod and jack pivoted to the hammer-heel and provided with the button Z, in combination with the jack-butt J, pivoted to the flange of the rail K, the intermediate lever N, the throwoff spoon M, projecting' from the jack-butt and adapted to move the lever N into contact with the button Z, the rail K, with its bevel or incline q, and the block r, the latter adapted by contact with the incline q to seat the lifterrod and jack upon the shoulder n of the jackbutt, substantially as set forth.

7. In an upright-piano action,the combination, with the lifter-rod and jack pivoted to the hainmenheel and operated by the jackbutt, as described, of the lever N, the backcatcli P, secured to and projecting from the front side of the lever N, and the elongated bumper Q, projecting down from the hammerheel and adapted to be caught. and held without slip by the back-catch as the lever N is actuated, substantiall y as and for the purpose set forth.

S. In an upright-piano action, the jack-butt J, pivoted at its front end to the flange of the rail K and having the seat or shouldern and stop s, and the lifter-rod and jack I'Lpivoted to the hammer-heel and resting at its lower end upon said jack-butt, in combination with the key L, provided with the adj Listing-screw fi, the latter adapted to contact with the under side of the jack-butt to lift the same, substantially as described.

9. In an upright-piano action, the combination, with the litter-rod and jack pivoted to the hammer-heel and the jack-butt J, pivoted to the flange of the rail K, of the spring t, secured at one end to the jack-butt and connected at its opposite end to the lifter-rod and jack, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

l0. In an uprightpiano action, the combination, with the litter-rod and j ack and thejackbuit, of the spring t, pivoted at one end to the j ack-butt, whereby it is freeto oscillate thereon as the lifter-rod and jack is thrown off and onto the seat n, said spring t being provided at its opposite end with a hook engaging a pin on the lifter-rod and jack, all operating substantially as described.

ll. In an upright-piano action, the lifter-rod and jack pivoted to thehammer-heel and provided with the button Z, in combination with the jack-butt J, pivoted to the flange ot' the rail K and having the seat or shoulder n, the intermediate lever N, the throw-off spoon M, projecting` up from the jack-butt and adapted to move the lever N into contact with the button Z, the rail K, with its bevel or incline q, the block r, adapted by contact with the incline q to seat the lifter-rod and jack upon the shoulder n of the j ack-butt, and the spring t, secured at one end to the jack-butt and at the opposite end to the lifter-rod and jack, all operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

l2. In an upright-piano action, the combination, with the lifter-rod and jack II and the jack-butt J, operating as described, of the flange I, made adjustable upon the rail A and provided with a guide slot or groove f for the lifter-rod and jack, whereby the latter can be adjusted to bring,` it into line with the jackbutt, substantially as described.

13. In an upright-piano action, the combination of the damper and damper-lever, the latter pivoted to the flange c ofthe rail A, the pivoted j ack-butt, and an intermediate lever operated by the jack-butt and. adapted to actuate the damper-lever on the depression of the key, substantially as set forth.

I4. In an upright-piano action, the combination of the damper and damper-lever, the latter pivoted to the flange of the rail A, the intermediate actuating-lever N, and the jackbutt J, with its throw-off spoon M, the latter adapted to contact with the lever N to actuate the damper-lever on the depression of the key, substantially as described.

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l5. In an uprightpiano action, the coinbinamer-spring E, `guide-llange I, with its slot f,

' lifter-rod and jack H, with its adjustable butt0n Z and block r, the rail K With its bevel or incline q, the jack-butt J, pivoted to the (lange g of the rail K and provided with the seat or shoulder n and throw-off spoon M, the key L, provided with the adjustingscrew i, the lever N, the back-catch P, secured to the lever N, the bumper Q, projecting from the hammerhcel, and the Spring i, having one end connected with the jack-butt and the other end with the lifter-rod and jack, all constructed and arranged to' operate substantially as set forth.

16. An action for upright-pianos, substantially as described, the same consisting',r of the rail A, lange a, hammer F, guide-flange I with its slot f, lifter-rod and jack H, with its adjustable button Z, and block r, the rail K, with its bevel or incline q, the jack-butt J, pivoted to the flange g of the rail K and provided With the seat or shoulder n and throwotf spoon M, the springr t, having one end connected With the jack-butt and the other end with the lifter-rod and jack, the key L, provided With the adj usting-screw z',- the lever N, the bumper Q, projecting from the hammerheel, the damper b, damper-lever B, pivoted to the ange a and adapted to be actuated by the lever N, and the damper-spring e, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

17. In an u pri ght-piano action, the combinay tion of the rail A with itsv flange a, the hammer F, hammer-spring E, guide-flange I With its slot f, lifter-rod and jack H, with its adj ustable button Zand inclined block o", the rail K, with its bevel orincline q, the jack-butt J, pivoted to the flange g of the rail K and provided With the seat or shouldern and throwoEE spoon M, the spring t, having one end pivoted to, the jack-butt and the other end detachably connected with the lifter-rod and jack, the key L, provided with the adjustingscreW z', the lever N, the back-catch P, secured to the lever N, the bumper Q, project-ing from the hammer-heel, the damper b, damper-lever B, pivoted to the iiange a. and adapted t-o be actuated by the lever N, and the damperspring e, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

18. In an upright-piano action, the combination of the lifter-rod and jack H, pivoted to the hammer-heel and provided with the adjustable button Z, the jack-butt Jpivoted to the [lange g of the rail K and provided with the throw-olif spoon M, the lever N, and the vkey L, with its adjusting-screw i, the latter forming a rest for the jack-butt, all operating substantially as set forth.

Vitness my hand this 17th dayof August,

GEORGE MORSE GUILD.

In presence of- P. E. TESOHEMACHER, R. HENRY MARSH. 

